Car seems slower

[FlashingBlade]

2002 C2 Coupe with PSE

Last week the RMS leaked and was replaced, supposedly with the latest generation seal.

I also complained about a rattle in the driver's side muffler and they decided to replace it.

They also hooked up the vacuum lines to the other muffler which had gotten detached somehow.

The car is now significantly quieter and the PSE override switch, which I put in a couple weeks ago,

now actually works. I must have driven with this vacuum leak for a while, and apparently a defective

muffler. The car sounded like a brassy hot rod with a rattle, now it sounds a lot more civilized.

The downside however seems to be that the low end also feels weaker. Before the car

would pull like a locomotive from 2k rpm, now power only really comes on above 3k rpm.

Mileage also seems to have gotten worse, though only by about 1 mpg (I used to get 19

now 18).

I checked to see whether any vacuum lines were detached, but everything seems fine.

How could these actions create such an effect? Does a wide open muffler provide that much

gain in low end? I can hardly immagine that the new RMS makes any difference.

It seems to defy logic, and any thoughts on the matter would be appreciated.

Thanks.